Collapsible umbrella.



W. MOK. CRAIG.

GOLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG.14. 19 1.

Patented Jan. 14,1913.

I I I Mf/ZMMKK by I] i Attorneys.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTCE.

WILLIAM MCKENDBEE CRAIG, OF HEALDSB'URG, CALIFORNIA.

COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM McKnNnnnn CRAIG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Healdsburg, in the county of Sonoma and State of California, have invented a new and useful Collapsible Umbrella, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible umbrellas.

The object of the invention is to simplify and improve the manner of constructing the ribs, whereby to permit of their being readily shortened to cause the umbrella when collapsed to assume a length equal to only one-half of that when distended, and further to render unnecessary the employment of catches of any character to hold the ribs extended.

A further object of the invention is to brace the ribs at the points of connection with the spreaders in such manner that when distended, they will be practically as rigid as the ordinary solid ribs.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a collapsible umbrella, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding partsFigure 1 is a view in side elevation of the handle carrying section of the staff or stick. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the notch carrying section of the staff, showing the ribs in their collapsed position. Fig. 3 is a similar View, showingone of the ribs in its distended position, and broken away. Fig. 4 is a perspecive detail view of a portion of one of the ribs and its co-acting spreader, showing more particularly the manner in which the parts are assembled.

The staff or stick is constructed in two sections 1 and 2, of which the former carries the usual handle 3, and the latter the runner 4, spreader notch 5 and rib notch 6.

Each section is equipped with the usual runner locking latch 7 and 8, respectively, that operate in the well known manner to lock the runner in raised or lowered position.

The two sections of the stafi are held detachably assembled by providing, the section 1 with a reduced terminal shank 9 carrying a pin or stud 10, the shank being de- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 14, 1911.

Patented Jan. 1st, 1913.

Serial No. 644,034.

signed to fit snugly within the lower end of the section 2, which latter is provided with a bayonet slot 11 that is engaged by the pin 10 and serves to hold the two sections firmly interlocked, but to permit ready separation when desired. The runner notch, runner and rib notch may be of the usual or any preferred construction, and there fore need no further. description.

The gist of the present invention resides in the novel collapsible rib employed to permit ready conversion of the umbrella from a knock down to an operative structure. Each rib comprises two sections 12 and 13 having their adjoining ends overlapped and spaced apart, the former of which is connected with the notch 6 in the usual manner, and the latter with the notch 5 by a spreader 14 which is pivotally connected to a geat or radial cars 15 constituting an integral part of a slide or sleeve 16 carried by the inner end of the rib section 13, the rivet 17 that holds the yoke of the spreader assembled with the geat being also passed through an eye 18 at inner end of the rib section 13, thus to secure an effective connection between the parts. The outer end of the rib section 12 has rigidly connected with it a geat or radial ear 19 constituting an integral part of a slide or sleeve 20, that is engaged by the section 1.3. The two geats project in opposite directions, and the space between the two sections is suflicient to permit the two slides to interlock or overlap when the rib is extended, as shown in Fig. 3, and thus brace the rib sections at the point of connection wlth the spreader, and to cause it to be practically as rigid and quite as strong as a solid rib. The slides 16 and 20, respectively, are pivoted to the eX- tremities of the parts 13 and 12, so that when the rib is contracted or extended, the said slides may swing slightly relative to the parts of'the rib, as may be essential in the; free movement of the parts relative to each other. The said slides being pivoted to the sections of the rib also permit the slides to swing when necessary, due to the bowing of the rib when the umbrella is opened.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the connection between the two rib sections is an uninterrupted sliding one, that is to say, there is nothing to prevent free movement of the parts in either direction, as spring locking means such as are commonly employed to lock the ribs in their distended position are rendered entirely unnecessary. By this arrangement, when the umbrella is to be distended, the two sections of the staff are assembled. One hand of the operator will grasp the handle and upon a pull being exerted on the runner by the other hand, all oi the ribs will be simulta neously distended, their outward movement being checked by the interlocking of the slides, as shown in Fig. 3. To collapse the umbrella, the reverse of the above operation is observed, that is to say, the operator will grasp the staff above the rib notch, and upon a push being exerted on the runner, all of the ribs will. be collapsed. The handle section is now detached, and the collapsing of the article is now complete.

From the foregoing description and illustration given, it will be seen that while the improvements herein described are simple in character, they will be thoroughly effective for the purposes designed, and will coact in the production of a simple and durable form of collapsible umbrella.

What is claimed is:

1. An umbrella embodying a notch, a runnor, a two-part rib, the adjoining ends of which overlap and are spaced apart, a sleeve slidable on each part and having a radial ear engaged by the inner end of the other pa rt, the sleeves being designed to overlap when the parts of the rib are extended so as to brace the rib, one part of the rib being connected to the notch, and a spreader connecting the ear of the sleeve slidable on the said part and the runner.

2. An umbrella comprising a notch, a run ner, a two-part rib, the ends (ICE which overlap and are spaced apart, a sleeve having a radial ear pivoted to the inner extremity of each part and the sleeve slidably engaging the other part, one part of the rib being connected to the notch, and a spreader eonnecting the sleeve on the said part and the runner.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aliixed my signa ture in the presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM MGKENDREE CRAIG.

Witnesses W. J. MCCLENDON, N. F. FRAME.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of J'Eatents, Washington, D. C. 

